Cernunnos…

– – Cernunnos is a righteous dude, and perhaps an early furry lifestyler! Also known as the horned god, Cernunnos is the antlered “God of the Forest” and often considered “God of the Animals” who is often portrayed as sporting a rather significant set of deer, elk, or moose horns; moreover, he wears them well! An anthropomorphic being, Cernunnos is often depicted with an impressive rack while the head beneath is sometimes human and at other times shown as that of a stag. The body tends to be human, ending in feet that in some depictions are cloven deer hooves.

Celebrated in Celtic mythology and also incorporated into pagan and Wiccan traditions, Cernunnos represents a number of things, mostly good; he is the lord of the hunt, associated with both the hunter and the hunted, and is kind of an embodiment of nature; he would certainly be an unapologetic tree-hugger. Cernunnos also represents prosperity and abundance, for which purpose he is often pictured with an overflowing purse of coins. Cernunnos is also associated with life, death, and rebirth, for which reason some images of him depict an antlered skull head, while I consider him more of a vigorous life force embodiment. Along these lines, Cernunnos is also identified with male sexuality, fertility, and the celebration of it; he is, after all, horny! The deity holds or is in the presence of a snake in many images, another phallic symbol. In some images, the deity is shown as quite a hunk who could probably sell products to housewives easily; advertisers please note! He is mysterious, elemental, and rather medieval in an enticing “Game of Thrones” way…

Cernunnos is associated with the fire element and the life-giving power of the sun. Being all of these things and more, Cernunnos has rather big hooves to fill, but serves all of his roles admirably and well. I rather like the dude and could work for him; note the fox by his feet in this image…